Apparatus for metering and delivering yarn bits to tufting needles or other utilization devices

ABSTRACT

Tufting machines in which the feed of yarn to individual tufting stations from one or more yarn sources controlled in accordance with a program which may be based, for example, on yarn color and/or yarn composition and/or number of plies or strands.

yarn to inions from one or more yarn sources conce with a program which m ay be based, for r yarn composition and/or References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,054 12/1960 Masland11...................

ng machines in which the feed of g stat 3,080,837 3/1963 Kaffineeta1.. 3,144,844 8/1964 E1liotteta1....... 3,247,814 4/1966 Po1evitzky..... 3,324,812 6/1967 Smith............ 3,387,577 6/1968 Spaneletal. 3,389,667 6/1968 Mueller.................... Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Attorney-Woodcock, Washburn, Kurtz & Mackiewicz ABSTRACT: Tufti dividual tuftin trolled in accordan example, on yarn color and/o number of plies or strands.

Blackwood, NJ.

panel in-part 01' Ser. No. 608,813, now abandoned DLES OR OTHER United States Patent Inventors Abram Spanel 344 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ. 08540' George J. Brennan.

Appi, No, 697,268

Filed Dec. 18, 1967 Patented Jan. 12, I971 Assignee Said Brennan assignor to said S Continuation- Nov. 6, 1967,

YARN BITS TO TUFIING NEE UTILIZATION DEVICES 16 Claims. 13 Drawing Figs.

Int.

[5 4] APPARATUS FOR METERING AND DELIVERING [50] FieldofSearch.............,..........

, AmauLARLY ADJ venue CLOCK PULSE-5 FOR PATTERN READOUT PATENTED JMI I 2 ml Fig. 2

OPEN l 5T. azmcs CLOSE SHEET 5T Puu. PuLLt-lz OPEN CLOSE 1ND PULL PULL ER A FEED FEED

open 35% (n-c) CL use a?!" vAcuuM(5o) cues:

CUTTING MEANS (52) CUT- PATENTED JAN I 2 |97l sum as or 10 PATENIED JAN! 2 Ian sum on or 10 wwN NON

N. nmn l nu n u l mlm wmm I PATENIEI] JAN I 2m SHEET 07 0F 10 Fig. 9

KLMNoPaRs PATENTEU JAN 1 2 an sum as or 10 mmmbnu H ZUOJU g 6n m N u 3 m o n 0m qm .NN 21 W5 M 2" \m ow llll ll l l llllln m m aw mm Ill 3 @N PAIENTED JAM 2 ml SHEU 09 0F 10 PATENTEU JAN I 2:911

sum 10 or 10 APPARATUS FOR METERING AND DELIVERING YARN BITS TO TUFTING NEEDLES OR OTHER UTILIZATION DEVICES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 680,813, filed Nov. 6, 1967, (now abandoned).

Apparatus disclosed herein is particularly suited for supplying bit-lengths of yarn to bit-applying stations and devices disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 503,342, filed Oct. 23, 1965 by Abram N. Spanel and Loy E. Barton and upon which Letters Patent 3,387,577 was granted on Jun. I 1, I968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain of its aspects, the invention is particularly concerned with the manufacture of tufted products, such as rugs, carpets and the like, by tufting machines in which there is a multiplicity of sources of different color yarns for the individual tufting needles or equivalent. Earlier tufting machines of this type utilized a color-scanning technique having the inherent weakness that if the machine has, for example, a fivecolor potential, the production speed of the machine is limited by the time required to scan all five-color possibilities in each machine cycle even when no color change is being made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention as applied to multicolor operation of a tufting machine, all of the colored yarns are simultaneously available for delivery of any selected one of them to the individual tufting needles so avoiding loss of production time due to any color-scanning technique.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a prefeeder which stores a metered length of yarn drawn by it from an associated yarn source and which draws more yarn from such source only after withdrawal of the stored length from the prefeeder.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a yarn-feeder or selector having a passage for receiving yarn, cutting means acting across such passage to detach a yarn-bit from the yarn, and valve means operable to admit flow of air through passage for transport of yarn beyond the yam-cutting means. Specifically, the yarn so advanced beyond the yarn-cutting means is withdrawn from the aforesaid prefeeder.

The invention also resides in yarn-metering, feeding and delivering apparatus having features of construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS For a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference is made in the following description to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a schematic view of a tufting machine;

FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing the sequence of operations in one cycle of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an assembled tufting machine with the near side frame removed and with some portions in cross section;

FIG. 3A is a plan view, in section, taken on line 3A-3A of FIG. 1 with double needle in loading position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, of one of the yarn-metering devices;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, in section, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate modifications of the selector device of preceding FIGS. of drawing;

FIG. 9 illustrates a multicolor rug pattern; and

FIGS. 10, II and I2 are schematic views of modifications of the machine of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the subsequent discussion of FIG. I, it is assumed for simplicity of explanation that yarn sources respectively of three different colors are available for each tufting station although any additional number, consistent with reasonable space limitations, may be used.

For each tufting station, the creel I0 has a group of three spools 10R, 10W, 108 respectively providing, for example, a supply source of red, white and blue yarn. Preferably and as shown, the spools of each group are in a vertical array.

From the creel, the yarn strands R, W, B are led into a mctering device 12 which, as shown, preferably comprises a plurality of brakes and yarn-pullers or feeders subsequently described in greater detail. From the metering device I2. the yarns R, W, B pass through a multistrand selector mechanism 14. Here again there are three devices arranged vertically above one another, one for each yarn. Each of the selectors 14R, 14W, 148 may include a solenoid-operated valve (50R, 50W, 508) and may include a knife mechanism (52R, 52W. 52B) for cutting off lengths of yarn, for example, yarn bits of length suited for one loop or tuft.

From each selector (14R, 14W, 14B), there is a tube or passageway extending to or forming one input passage of a collator 16. This collator may simply be a block of material having passageways (16R, 16W, 16B) that merge into a com men or single passageway 18 so that whether the yarn-bit is delivered from the "JR spool, the 10W spool or the H18 spool. it will eventually be transported into the common passage 18 which feeds into the needle loader 20, which preferably is of type shown and claimed in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 503,342, filed Oct. 23, 1965, by Abram N. Spanel and Loy E. Barton.

Air for transporting yarn-bits from the selector mechanism 14 through the collator 16 to the loading station 20 may be provided by a vacuum pump 24 whose inlet connects to the loading space in front of bit-centering stop 25. When the double needle 22 is in its threading or loading position, its eyes are in alignment with the outlet passage I8 of the collator 16 or a continuation of such passage. The selected color bit is trans ported by air from the corresponding selector device (MR. 14W, 148) through the collator I6 and comes to centering position in the eyes of the needle 22 as determined by the stop 25.

The needles 22 are secured in a more or less conventional needle bar 22' which, in the particular machine shown in FIG. 1, operates from beneath a backing layer or web 26 to produce the tufting. The reciprocation of needle bar 22' may be produced by cam 28.

The web feed may be similar to that disclosed in aforesaid application, Ser. No. 503,342, and, as shown, includes a supply roll 30, an idler roll 32, and pin or drive roll 34. The ratch and pawl mechanism 36 drives the pin roll 34 intermittently to advance the web as the tufting is produced. An applicator 38 may be disposed in position immediately after the pin drive 34 to spray or brush latex or other binder on the floor-side" of the tufted web.

A single motor 40 has been shown to drive the entire device through a suitable transmission 42 which may be a train of gears, timing chain, or the like. This provides a simple arrangement for synchronous operation of all the elements including metering device 12, the cutting means of selector I4, the reciprocating needle bar 22' and the intermittent web drive mechanism 36.

The operation of the various mechanisms is now described in greater detail.

The metering mechanism 12 comprises a series of brakes 12A, 12B, and 12C. Between each pair of brakes is a yarnpulling device; specifically, yarn-pulling device 12X is situated intermediate the brakes 12A and 12B and yarn-pulling device 12Y is situated between the brakes 12B and 12C. While 12X is at the top of its stroke FIGS. 1,2), I2Y may be considered at the bottom of its stroke; and since they may be operated by cams producing a harmonic type motion, they may be considered as operating out of phase. The pullers 12X, I2Y

accelerate from their extreme positions to the midway of their stroke and decelerate from that point to the bottom of their stroke, thereby minimizing a jerk or erratic pull on the yarn as they act upon it. The brakes 12A, 12B and 12C may be operated by separate cams so that when a yarn, such as R, is being pulled under the influence of puller 12X, the brake 12B is closed and brake 12A open so that the yarn is pulled from the creel without possibility of a reverse or opposite feedmotion. This will be more clearly described and understood with reference to the timing diagram (FIG. 2) to be subsequently described in greater detail.

With puller 12( at the bottom of its stroke (FIG. 1), the brakes 12A, 12C are closed and brake 12B is open. In its descent. the puller 12Y drew yarn to the left without restraint by open brake 128 but was precluded from drawing yarn from the creel 10 by the closed brake 12A and was precluded from withdrawing yarn to the right (FIG. 1) from the selector mechanism by closed brake 12C. The yarn loops formed at the second pulling station by puller 12Y are from yarn temporarily stored at the first pulling station.

The yarn puller 12X may serve as a prefeeder, and, accordingly, may have a stroke slightly larger than the feeder 12Y. Thus, there is drawn from the creel 10, that is, from every one of the spools 10R, 10W and 108 an increment slightly larger than the bit size desired in the ultimate tufting process. Such increment is temporarily stored between brakes 12A and 12B; and upon release of brake 12B and the closing of brake 12A, the puller 12Y draws from that prepulled increment the length bit desired in the finished product. Upon the opening of brake 12C, the increment of yarn stored between brakes 12B and 12C is available for a selector 14 and is drawn into it if demand exists.

In the production of a tufted rug, one or another of the selector valves 50R, 50W or 503 may be opened in each successive machine cycle in response to control signals which repeat or execute the color requirements of a desired pattern. The cutting means 52R, 52W, 52B however, all operate simultaneously and in every successive cycle of the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1. A vacuum generated at the needle loader attempts to draw air through the yarn passages of all of selectors 14R, 14W, 148 but, with only one of the valves (50R, 50W or 503) opened, only the yarn within that particular selector (14R, 14W or 143) will be pneumatically advanced a bit-length beyond the path of the retracted knife (52R, 52W or 528). For example, if valve 50R should be opened, the yarn loop produced by puller 12Y from the spool 10R, the red strand R, under the influence of the vacuum, is drawn to the left beyond the retracted knife 52R: then in proper time sequence and when within the selector 14R, a bitlength of strand R is cut off by movement of the knife 52R across the yarn passage.

Upon the opening of the knife blade, that yarn portion or bit may be drawn through its particular passageway into the collator 16 passing into the common passageway 18 and thence through the eyes of the needle 22 (then in threading position above the backing), finally abutting against the stop 25. Meanwhile, the unopened valves 50W and 50B of selectors 14W and 14B having remained closed have not drawn yarn from the yarn-puller 12Y but rather these yarns remain hanging slack or in storage between the brakes 12B and 12C. Since they are hanging slack, the repeated cycle of the yarn-pullers 12X and 12Y add no additional yarn to the reserve sewing their respective selectors, and on the succeeding cycle, only the loop or bit portion related to the selector 14R will be drawn into position in readiness for a possible red-bit demand in the next cycle of the machine.

The timing diagram of FIG. 2 is self-explanatory. It is to be noted that at the top and bottom of the strokes of pullers 12X and 12Y, the brakes 12A, 12B and 12C are closed. This prevents any reverse motion or drift of the yarns and assures substantially uniform bit-lengths.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show in more structural detail a mechanism of type schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. This mechanism is shown (FIG. 3) as having a five-color potential and, com sequently, the yarn-metering device 112 and the yarn selector mechanism 114 is repeated five times for each needle-loading station instead of three times as in, FIG. 1. The brakes 112A, 1128 and 112C and the yarn-pullers 112X and 112Y for each color are mounted on a common base member which also supports the yarn selector assembly 1 14.

Since the combined assemblies of units 112-114 are identical for each color, description of one of them is sufficient. The lowermost one has been selected for discussion because it includes the power input that is transmitted to all of them (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

As shown in FIG. 3, the units 1l2-l14 of each assembly may be angularly arranged about a common point so that they will be equidistant from said point and, therefore, equidistant from the associated needle-loading station so to provide that the delivery time for the various colored yarns will be the same. The rear or output end 161 of each base member 160 abuts the front end of the collator 116. Yarn passageways 162 in base member 160 thus align with and form continuations of similar passageways 163 in the collator 116. Passageways 163 may all merge into the common passageway 118 of the collator which, in turn, may align with the passageways 164 of the array of needle-loading stations.

A comblike structure under the needleloader 120 provides support for the web or backing material 126 during the tufting operation. This comprises a transverse base member 171 to which is secured a series of horizontally spaced vertical plates 172. The needles 122 pass upwardly between the spaced plates and thence through the web 126 into the needleloader 120. Within the needle-loader at each loading station is a shaped cavity 174 (FIGS. 3, 3A) into which the needles 122 enter with eyes 122E forming, at the top of the stroke, an almost continuous passageway with passageway 164 to facilitate the threading of a yarn-bit into the eyes. As shown in FIG. 3, vacuum is supplied to the needle-loaders 120 from a manifold 175 which may be connected to a vacuum pump 24 (FIG. 1 Since transport air is required during only a portion of the machine cycle, a timed valve 176 may be provided to control vacuum to the manifold.

Web feed roll 134 may be intermittently advanced by drive mechanism 36 of FIG. 1. Various idler rolls 132 may be provided to guide the tufted product to latex-applying and inspection stations, not shown.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 for discussion of the construction and operation of the metering and selecting mechanisms. Because of the close proximity of the needles 122, the yarn passageways 162 in base member 160 must also be similarly and closely spaced. To accommodate the brakes, valves and knives associated with the closely spaced passageways, they may be arranged (FIG. 4) in staggered arrays, the brakes and knives in three staggered rows; and the solenoids, because of their possible larger diameter, in four rows.

The brakes 112A, 1123 and 112C may all be identical in construction and may operate in conformity with the timing sequence shown in FIG. 2. For an understanding of their construction, there is specifically discussed the brake 112C which is shown partly in section (FIG. 5). Each brake comprises a rod 200 which perpendicularly intersects an airflow passageway 162 in base member 160 and is guided therein. A transverse plate 202 across the top of bearing blocks 206 also serves as a guide, and additionally serves as a fixed member against which a downwardly biasing spring 208 bears. The lower end of spring 208 engages a forwardly projecting finger 210 secured to brake rod 200. Thus, the rod is normally pressed downward through passageway 162. The finger 210 overlies a notch 212 in a transverse shaft 214.

As shown in FIG. 4, shaft 214 is journaled in frame mem bers F and has secured thereto at one end a lever 216 having a cam-follower 218 at its free end. The springs 208 collectively bias this cam follower against a face cam 220C. The face cams 220C, 220B and 220A are all secured to a shaft 222 which may make one rotation per cycle of the machine. Shaft 222 is journaled in bearings 224 mounted on a frame member F.

Also secured to shaft 222 is a barrel cam 230 which oscillates a cam-follower 232 on lever 234 pivotally secured to frame F A connecting rod 236 pivotally secured to the top of lever 234 (FIG. 6) transmits oscillations to a lever 238 secured to a shaft 240. Immediately inboard frame members F, shaft 240 (FIGS. 4, 5) has pinned thereto the rocker arms 242. Pivotally and slidably connected to the ends of these arms 242 are the yarn-pullers 112K and 112Y (see FIG. 5). Transverse rods 244x and 244Y engage the yarn and effect the yarnpulling in two stages as discussed in connection with FIG. 1.

The solenoid valves 150 are assembled in four staggered rows (FIGS. 4, 5) on a common plate 250 and, like the brakes, each movable valve member 252 intersects an airflow/yarn passageway 162 in base 160. The armature 254 may be springbiased downwardly, and energization of coil 256 may open the valve. An air intake vent 258 precedes each valve member 252 so that when a valve is opened, the vacuum may act upon the yarn to transport it toward and beyond the strand-severing means 152.

The preferred strand-severing knife mechanism means as knife mechanism 152 shown comprises a spring-biased anvil 260 and a spring-biased knife 262. Each knife may have at it is top a forwardly projecting finger 264 (FIG. 5) which may be biased against a transverse lever arm 266 secured to a shaft 268. Referring to FIG. 4, shaft 268 may have secured thereto a lever arm 270 with a cam-follower 272 at its free end. The cam-follower 272 may engage a face cam 274 secured to onetime shaft 222. Cam 274 causes oscillation of shaft 268, causing the knives to travel across the passageway toward engagement with the yielding anvils. It is to be understood other cutting mechanisms may be used.

The drive transmission can best be understood by reference to FIGS. 4 and 6. At the rear end of one-time shaft 222 may be secured a mitre gear 280 and a bevel gear 282. Meshing with mitre gear 280 is a mitre gear 284 secured to a jack shaft 286 journaled in bearings 288 on a frame member F and outboard frame F. A sprocket 290 secured to this shaft 286 is driven by another sprocket 294 (FIG. 6) on motor shaft 292 through chain 296.

Motor shaft 292 also has thereon a gear 298 meshing with gear 300 on camshaft 302. Cams 304 on camshaft 302 operate needle bar 122'.

The bevel gear 282 (FIG. 6) meshes with a similar bevel gear 282A which, in turn, drives gears 282B to 282C, etc., so that the shaft 222A, 222B, 222C, etc. are driven simultaneously to operate each color bank the same as the one described.

The control signals for selective operation of the valves of the multistrand selectors to reproduce a desired pattern on the backing layer or web may be provided by any of various known readout devices suited to convert the pattern information, as recorded on tapes, cards, drums or other medium, into electrical or other type of signals which are supplied in synchronism with operation of the machine to the various selector valves.

In the modified selector mechanism 314 schematically shown in FIG. 7, the valve and yarn-severing means are effectively combined in a single device. Specifically, the valve rod 352 which normally obstructs the airflow/yam passageway 162 is shaped to provide a yarn-cutting edge. With this modification, in the interval for which the last brake 12C is closed, the solenoid 350 can be energized for pneumatic transport to the loading station of a previously detached yam-bit and in the interval for which the last brake 12C is open, the solenoid 350 can be energized for pneumatic advance of the yarn strand another bit-length beyond the cutting position.

In the modified selector mechanism 414 schematically shown in FIG. 8, the last brake mechanism 12C of preceding FIGS. is omitted and the valve rod 452 serves as the last brake of the series. With such modification, the biasing force on the valve rod 452 must be sufficiently great to preclude withdrawal of yarn from the selector by the puller 12Y and requires a stronger solenoid than needed for the earlier described modifications.

In short, either the separate knife of the preferred embodiment may be omitted (as in FIG. 7) or the last brake 12C of the preferred embodiment may be omitted (as in FIG. 8) provided that in each case the solenoid (350 or 450) be of sufficiently greater power than needed for the preferred embodiment and also be dimensionally practical.

It is to be understood that valve means and yarn-cutting means may be other than those specifically shown. For example, the selector valves may be pneumatically, rather than electrically, operated and the yarn-cutting means may conceivably be a directed laser beam.

With the yarn-feeding and selector arrangements of the present invention, it is not necessary to modify or substitute cams or other elements in changing, for example, from singlecolor to any two or more color operation, from two to threecolor operation, etc., or vice versa. The timing and the time interval for selective feeding of yarn-bits is always the same regardless of the the number of colors provided or required.

It is to be noted that the number of colors provided in the creel need not be as great as the number of colors required by the pattern. For example, FIG. 9 represents a pattern rug having ten colors thereon indicated by the letters A, B, C through to J. However, this rug can be produced with a three-color machine.

By considering the rug as produced in the direction indicated by the arrow, it will be seen that the width of the machine can be divided into color zones designated by the brackets K, L, M, N through Z. Within these zones, the color requirements can be found in the following:

TABLE (1) 2 colors required, zones: 3 colors required, zones:

This is significant since it permits a relatively small creel for a large number of colors.

In the tufting machining shown in FIG. 10, there is only one yarn-strand source per bit-loading station with corresponding reduction in the number of yarn-pullers and selector devices per station. The collator (16 of FIG. 1; 116 of FIG. 3) is omitted and the selector 14 is immediately adjacent, or part of, the needle threading or loading station assembly.

For bit-lengths less than the distance from the cutting means 528 to the needle 22 in loading position, a yarn-bit, after its detachment from strand S, is pneumatically fed through the eyes of the then stationary needle and centering of the bit may be effected by adjustment of stop 25. Under this circumstance, the operation of the FIG. 10 machine is the same as above described for FIGS. 1 and 3 except that the distance traveled by the detached bit is shorter. For bit-lengths greater than the distance from the cutting means 525 to needle 22 in loading position, the end of the yarn strand S as pneumatically fed beyond the cutting station extends through the eyes of needle 22. Under this circumstance, the threaded yarn strand 8 may be cut by knife 528, or equivalent cutting means, before or during movement of loaded needle 22 from loading position. For bit-lengths not exceeding approximately twice the distance from the needle path to the cutting station, the stop 25 is set to approximately one-half bit-length from the needle path and the knife 525 is timed to operate before movement of the loaded needle 22 from its loading position. For bit-lengths exceeding twice the distance from the path of the needle 22 to the yam-cutting station, the stop 25 is again set to approximately one-half bit-length from the needle path but the knife 525, or equivalent, is timed to operate during movement of the needle as loaded with the uncut yarn. The timing is adjusted so that the additional amount of uncut yarn pneumatically fed to the source side of the moving needle before cutting effects a substantial match with the yarn end on the other side of the needle. Since during this yarn-feeding time the needle eyes are out of alignment with yarn-passage 164, there is inappreciable, if any, further feeding of yarn through the eyes.

In all three of the foregoing cases, the effective stroke of the yarn-puller 12Y is set so that the length of slack yarn ahead of valve 505, or equivalent, corresponds with the desired bitlength whether the bits be cut from the yarn strand before, during or after threading of the needle and before or during bit-applying movement of the needle from its loading position.

The valves 508 may be operated in every cycle of the machine to produce tufting which is continuous lengthwise and crosswise of the finished product and may also be operated selectively in accordance with pattern information to produce a tufted product in which the tufting forms any desired configuration on the background afforded by the backing layer.

In the tufting machine of FIG. 10 having one spool or source 105 per loading station, it will be understood that the strand on an individual spool may be of the same color throughout its length. Thus, a single color rug or carpet may be produced if all spools of the creel use a single-color strand and a striped multicolor rug or carpet may be produced if different groups of spools use different color yarns for the different groups. It will also be understood that a rug oi carpet of any multicolor pattern or design may be produced by loading the creel with spools of yarn whose successive increments of length per spool are of different color in accordance with the pattern requirement.

The tufting machine shown in FIG. II is similar to that of FIG. 10 except that for each loading station yarn is available from two or more sources as in the machines of FIGS. 1 to 9. Specifically, yarn from the several sources 1081 et seq. may differ in color, composition or other characteristic for supply to the loading station in accordance with any desired program.

The yarn from all sources 105] et seq. is initially threaded through the prefeeder I2 and into the single strand-cutting/pneumatic feed-unit 14S adjacent the loading station 20. In the prefeeder I2, each of the strands is engageable by one of the series of brakes IZAI, 12B], 12C]; 12A2, 1232, 12C2 and the intervening yarn-pullers 12X, 12Y, as previously described in connection with preceding FIGS. The prefeeder of FIG. 11 differs from those previously described, however, in that the release operation of the last brake (12Cl, 12C2) of each series can be inhibited, or permitted, in accordance with a pattern program. Specifically, the position of each of the stops 1281, 1232 with respect to the associated brake 12Cl, l2C2 depends upon the programmed excitation state of its actuator (I2Dl, 12D2) which, for example, may be a solenoid. Assuming for a given cycle of the machine that both stops 1251, 1282 are clear of the brakes 12CI, 12C2, then both strands S1, S2 are advanced beyond the knife 525 when the yarn-feed valve 505 admits air to feed-units 148. If for a given cycle of the machine, one or the other of stops 1251, 1252 is positioned against the corresponding brake member 12Cl, 12C 2, the release of that brake is prevented so to preclude any withdrawal of the corresponding yarn strand from the prefeeder. Thus, for example, if brake 12C1 is held closed, only strand S2 is advanced beyond knife 525 when the yarn-feed valve 505 admits air to the feed-unit 14S. Iffor a given cycle of the machine all of the stops are positioned to inhibit release of any of brakes 12C] et seq., none of the strands SI et seq. is advanced beyond the cutting means 528 when valve 508 is opened.

As indicated in FIG. 11, the cam-operated drive for each of the brakes IZCI et seq. may include spring means 12EI et seq. which yields when the brake is held in closed position by the programmed stop means.

With the arrangement of FIG. I], like those of FIGS. 1 to 9, the line of tufting produced per station may be either continuous or interrupted, and each tuft may be the same as the preceding or following tufts or differ therefrom in color and/or composition and/or number of plies or other characteristic. In the machine of FIG. 11, the valve 508, as well as cutting means 528, may operate in every cycle of the machine and, for simplicity may, therefore, also be operated from a cam (not shown) on the one-time shaft 222.

The yarn-metering and delivering arrangement shown in FIG. 12 is similar to that of FIG. I in that each strand passes through its own selector unit I4R et seq.) in advance of a collator 16 but differs from FIG. 1 in that the cutting means (52R et seq.) of the respective selector units are individually programmed. The FIG. 12 arrangement is similar to that of FIG. 11 in that there is a strand-cutting/feed-unit immediately adjacent the loading station so that the yarn bits may be cut from yarn which has been pneumatically fed into the loading station. The cutting means 52S and the valve means 508 of the feed-unit 148 may operate in every cycle of the machine and, therefore, both may be cam-operated from the one-time shaft 222.

The programmed operation of the cutting means 52R, 52W, 528 may be such that the yarn as fed through any one of the passages of the collator I6 is not a discrete bit but a metered length corresponding with the number of bits of that yarncolor or material to be applied to the backing layer in successive cycle of the machine. The yarn as advanced beyond the cutting means 525 of the common feed-unit 145 in any given cycle may be one, two or three strands from which a yarn bit of desired color and/or composition and/or number of plies are cut.

We claim:

1. An arrangement for producing yarn bits comprising:

a device having a passage for receiving yarn;

yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn;

valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means; and

said valve means including a movable member which normally obstructs flow of air through said passage and which is shaped to serve as a knife member of the yarncutting means.

2 An arrangement for producing yarn bits comprising:

a device having a passage for receiving yarn;

yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn;

valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means; and

said valve means including a movable member normally ob structing flow of air through said passage and exerting braking pressure against the yarn therein.

3. An arrangement for producing yarn bits comprising:

a device having a passage for receiving yarn;

yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn;

valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means;

a series of brakes spaced along the path of the yarn to said yarn-cutting means; the movable element of said valve means also serving as the last brake of said series of brakes;

a series of yarn-pullers respectively disposed between brakes of said series to produce slack in the yarn; and

means for operating the individual brakes of said series in such timed relation to each other and to said yarn-pullers that formation of slack from yarn in said device is precluded.

4. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them to a station comprising:

a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with said station; yam-cutting means acting across each selector passage; valve means for each selector operable to admit flow of air through its passage for advance of the corresponding yam therein by a bit-length beyond the path of said yarncutting means and for transport of the subsequently detached yarn bit to said station; means for actuating the yarn-severing means of the group of selectors; and yam-metering means between said group of selectors and said yarn sources. 5. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a station comprising:

a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage; a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding inlet passage of said collator; each of said selectors having: cutting means acting across that selector's passage to detach a bit from the yarn therein;

valve means operable to the exclusion of the valve means of the other selectors of the group to admit flow of air through said passage for advance of the corresponding yarn therein by one bit-length beyond the path of the corresponding cutting means and for transport of the subsequently detached yarn bit through the corresponding inlet passage of the collator to said common outlet passage thereof;

means for actuating the cutting means of all selectors of said group concurrently and at intervals to detach in each of successive intervals only a single yarn bit as advanced in one of said selectors; and

metering means between said group of selectors and said yarn sources for maintaining ahead of each of said selectors a slack loop of yarn.

6. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yam sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a single station comprising:

a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage;

a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding one of said inlet passages of the collator;

yarn-cutting means actuated periodically to traverse said passages; and

a plurality of valve means selectively operable in the interval between successive actuations of said cutting means for admission of air to the corresponding selector passage to advance one of said yarns a bit-length beyond the cutting means and to transport the resulting yarn bit to said common outlet passage of the collator.

7. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a single station comprising:

a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage;

a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding one of said inlet ps of the collator;

a group of knives, one for each of said selectors and actuated in unison periodically to traverse said passages, and

a group of valves, one for each of said selectors and selectively operable in the interval between successive actuations of said knives for admission of air to the corresponding selector passage to advance one of said yarns a bitlength beyond the corresponding knife and to transport the resulting yarn bit to said common outlet passage of the collator.

8. An arrangement as in claim 7 additionally including:

yarn-feeding means disposed between said group of selectors and said yarn sources, said yam-feeding means including:

a group of members repeatedly moved in unison and respectively crossing the paths of the individual yarns from its source to its selector to maintain in advance of each selector a slack loop of yarn;

a plurality of pairs of brakes for engaging the respective yarns on opposite sides of the corresponding yarn loop; and

means for operating said pairs of brakes in timed relation to said members to preclude reverse pulling of yarn from said selectors.

9. A tufting machine comprising:

a loading station having a passageway for flow of air;

a reciprocable bit-applying element movable across said passageway from a loading position to a bit-applying position;

structure having a passage for receiving a yarn strand, said passage and said passageway providing a path for the yarn strand;

yam-cutting means adjacent said bit-applying element movable across said path to detach a yarn bit from said strand;

pneumatic means operable while said bit-applying element is in the loading position to effect pneumatic feeding of the strand in said path; and

the distance between, and the relative timing of, said yamcutting means and said bit-applying element provide that the yarn as pneumatically fed beyond said yam-cutting means extends uncut across the path of the bit-applying element and a bit-length thereof is detached thereh'om as loaded in said bit-applying element.

10. A tufting machine as in claim 9 in which the yarncutting means is timed to detach the discrete yarn bit before movement of the loaded bit-applying element from its loading position.

11. A tufiing machine as in claim 9 in which the yamcutting means is timed to detach the discrete yarn bit during movement of the loaded bit-applying element from its loading position.

12. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing:

reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing toward and from a threading position;

pneumatic means extending transversely of said tufting-needle means for repeatedly transversely threading said tufting-needle means with tufting material upon successive movements of said tufting-needle means to said threading position;

strandsevering means adjacent said threading position operable repeatedly to cut said tufting material during or after its threading of the tufting-needle means to form bits; and

means for operating said tufting-needle means for applying said bits in turn by said tuning-needle means to the backing to form tufls by pasage of said tutting-needle means through said backing to a tufting position.

13. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing:

reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing;

strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tuiting material; a multi-strand selector arrangement including means to release a selected strand and restrain the remainder; pneumatic means for feeding the selected strand to and beyond said strand-severing means and into transverse threaded relation with said reciprocable tuiting-needle means; and

means for operating said strand-severing means to cut the selected strand to leave a bit in said reciprocable tuftingneedle means preparatory to movement thereof through the backing to the other side of the backing to form said tufts.

N. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing:

reciprocable tuning-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing;

strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tufting material;

pneumatic means for feeding said strand to and beyond said strand-severing means to transversely thread said reciprocable tufting-needle means with said strand; and

means for actuating said strand-severing means to cut the strand after threading of said tufting-needle means and before the threaded tufting-needle means moves from its threading position through the backing to a tufting position.

15. In a tufting machine for forming tufis on a backing:

reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing;

strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tutting material;

pneumatic means for feeding said strand to and beyond said strand-severing means to transversely thread said reciprocable tufting-needle means with said strand; and

means for actuating said strand-severing means to cut the strand after threading of said tufting-needle means during movement of the threaded tufting-needle means from its threading position toward a tufting position on the opposite side of the backing.

16. A tutting machine comprising:

a loading station having a passageway for flow of air;

a reciprocable bit-applying element movable across an in terrnediate portion of said passageway from a loading position therein to a bit-applying position;

an entrance portion of said passageway receiving a yarn strand, and providing a path for movement of the yarn strand to load said bit-applying element;

suction means connected to said passageway at a location beyond said bit-applying element and operable while said bit-applying eiement is in the loading position to move said strand lengthwise of said passageway to load said bitapplying element;

yam-cutting means adjacent said bit-applying element movable across said passageway to detach a yarn bit from said strand;

the distance between, and the relative timing of, said yam cutting means and said bit-applying element provide that the yarn as it is moved to load said bit-applying element extends uncut across its path and means for operating said yam-cutting means to detach from said yarn a bitlength and for operating said bit-applying element through a backing to apply thereto said bit-length of yarn. 

1. An arrangement for producing yarn bits comprising: a device having a passage for receiving yarn; yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn; valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means; and said valve means including a movable member which normally obstructs flow of air through said passage and which is shaped to serve as a knife member of the yarn-cutting means. CM,2Rangement for producing yarn bits comprising: a device having a passage for receiving yarn; yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn; valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means; and said valve means including a movable member normally obstructing flow of air through said passage and exerting braking pressure against the yarn therein.
 3. An arrangement for producing yarn bits comprising: a device having a passage for receiving yarn; yarn-cutting means acting across said passage to detach a yarn bit from said yarn; valve means operable to admit flow of air through said passage for transport of the yarn beyond said yarn-cutting means; a series of brakes spaced along the path of the yarn to said yarn-cutting means; the movable element of said valve means also serving as the last brake of said series of brakes; a series of yarn-pullers respectively disposed between brakes of said series to produce slack in the yarn; and means for operating the individual brakes of said series in such timed relation to each other and to said yarn-pullers that formation of slack from yarn in said device is precluded.
 4. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them to a station comprising: a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with said station; yarn-cutting means acting across each selector passage; valve means for each selector operable to admit flow of air through its passage for advance of the corresponding yarn therein by a bit-length beyond the path of said yarn-cutting means and for transport of the subsequently detached yarn bit to said station; means for actuating the yarn-severing means of the group of selectors; and yarn-metering means between said group of selectors and said yarn sources.
 5. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a station comprising: a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage; a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding inlet passage of said collator; each of said selectors having: cutting means acting across that selector''s passage to detach a bit from the yarn therein; valve means operable to the exclusion of the valve means of the other selectors of the group to admit flow of air through said passage for advance of the corresponding yarn therein by one bit-length beyond the path of the corresponding cutting means and for transport of the subsequently detached yarn bit through the corresponding inlet passage of the collator to said common outlet passage thereof; means for actuating the cutting means of all selectors of said group concurrently and at intervals to detach in each of successive intervals only a single yarn bit as advanced in one of said selectors; and metering means between said group of selectors and said yarn sources for maintaining ahead of each of said selectors a slack loop of yarn.
 6. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from different yarn sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a single station comprising: a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage; a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding one of said inlet passages of the collator; yarn-cutting means actuated periodically to traverse said passages; and a plurality of valve means selectively operable in the interval between successive actuations of said cutting means for admission of air to the corresponding selector passage to advance one of said yarns a bit-length beyond the cutting means and to transport the resulting yarn bit to said common outlet passage of the collator.
 7. An arrangement for producing yarn bits from diFferent yarn sources and delivering them in desired sequence to a single station comprising: a collator having a plurality of inlet passages extending to a common outlet passage; a group of selectors, each having a passage for receiving yarn from a corresponding one of said sources and communicating with a corresponding one of said inlet passages of the collator; a group of knives, one for each of said selectors and actuated in unison periodically to traverse said passages, and a group of valves, one for each of said selectors and selectively operable in the interval between successive actuations of said knives for admission of air to the corresponding selector passage to advance one of said yarns a bit-length beyond the corresponding knife and to transport the resulting yarn bit to said common outlet passage of the collator.
 8. An arrangement as in claim 7 additionally including: yarn-feeding means disposed between said group of selectors and said yarn sources, said yarn-feeding means including: a group of members repeatedly moved in unison and respectively crossing the paths of the individual yarns from its source to its selector to maintain in advance of each selector a slack loop of yarn; a plurality of pairs of brakes for engaging the respective yarns on opposite sides of the corresponding yarn loop; and means for operating said pairs of brakes in timed relation to said members to preclude reverse pulling of yarn from said selectors.
 9. A tufting machine comprising: a loading station having a passageway for flow of air; a reciprocable bit-applying element movable across said passageway from a loading position to a bit-applying position; structure having a passage for receiving a yarn strand, said passage and said passageway providing a path for the yarn strand; yarn-cutting means adjacent said bit-applying element movable across said path to detach a yarn bit from said strand; pneumatic means operable while said bit-applying element is in the loading position to effect pneumatic feeding of the strand in said path; and the distance between, and the relative timing of, said yarn-cutting means and said bit-applying element provide that the yarn as pneumatically fed beyond said yarn-cutting means extends uncut across the path of the bit-applying element and a bit-length thereof is detached therefrom as loaded in said bit-applying element.
 10. A tufting machine as in claim 9 in which the yarn-cutting means is timed to detach the discrete yarn bit before movement of the loaded bit-applying element from its loading position.
 11. A tufting machine as in claim 9 in which the yarn-cutting means is timed to detach the discrete yarn bit during movement of the loaded bit-applying element from its loading position.
 12. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing: reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing toward and from a threading position; pneumatic means extending transversely of said tufting-needle means for repeatedly transversely threading said tufting-needle means with tufting material upon successive movements of said tufting-needle means to said threading position; strand-severing means adjacent said threading position operable repeatedly to cut said tufting material during or after its threading of the tufting-needle means to form bits; and means for operating said tufting-needle means for applying said bits in turn by said tufting-needle means to the backing to form tufts by passage of said tutting-needle means through said backing to a tufting position.
 13. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing: reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing; strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tufting material; a multi-strand selector arrangement including means to releaSe a selected strand and restrain the remainder; pneumatic means for feeding the selected strand to and beyond said strand-severing means and into transverse threaded relation with said reciprocable tufting-needle means; and means for operating said strand-severing means to cut the selected strand to leave a bit in said reciprocable tufting-needle means preparatory to movement thereof through the backing to the other side of the backing to form said tufts.
 14. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing: reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing; strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tufting material; pneumatic means for feeding said strand to and beyond said strand-severing means to transversely thread said reciprocable tufting-needle means with said strand; and means for actuating said strand-severing means to cut the strand after threading of said tufting-needle means and before the threaded tufting-needle means moves from its threading position through the backing to a tufting position.
 15. In a tufting machine for forming tufts on a backing: reciprocable tufting-needle means movable through the backing to and from a threading position on one side of the backing; strand-severing means adjacent said tufting-needle means for cutting bits from a strand of tufting material; pneumatic means for feeding said strand to and beyond said strand-severing means to transversely thread said reciprocable tufting-needle means with said strand; and means for actuating said strand-severing means to cut the strand after threading of said tufting-needle means during movement of the threaded tufting-needle means from its threading position toward a tufting position on the opposite side of the backing.
 16. A tufting machine comprising: a loading station having a passageway for flow of air; a reciprocable bit-applying element movable across an intermediate portion of said passageway from a loading position therein to a bit-applying position; an entrance portion of said passageway receiving a yarn strand, and providing a path for movement of the yarn strand to load said bit-applying element; suction means connected to said passageway at a location beyond said bit-applying element and operable while said bit-applying element is in the loading position to move said strand lengthwise of said passageway to load said bit-applying element; yarn-cutting means adjacent said bit-applying element movable across said passageway to detach a yarn bit from said strand; the distance between, and the relative timing of, said yarn-cutting means and said bit-applying element provide that the yarn as it is moved to load said bit-applying element extends uncut across its path and means for operating said yarn-cutting means to detach from said yarn a bit-length and for operating said bit-applying element through a backing to apply thereto said bit-length of yarn. 